GRAMMYS GET ECLECTIC

In all, eight artists received five nominations each, while four others received four apiece.

At a press conference announcing nominees for the annual awards held today at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the Recording Academy tapped artists spanning a wide range of musical styles, encompassing industry veterans and newcomers.

In the Album Of The Year category, nominations ranged from the rap of Eminem and Nelly, to the country sounds of the Dixie Chicks, the rock and roll style of Bruce Springsteen and the pop/jazz vocals of Jones.

"This year's nominations reflect the diversity and eclecticism that make music our universal language," said Neil Portnow, President of the Recording Academy. "It's gratifying to see established artists share nods with up-and-comers across the board — all of whom represent some of the most remarkable music makers out there today."

The scope of nominations this year also reflects the surge of female artists who appeared on the scene last year. Many newcomers earned five nominations each, launching them into a league with seasoned Grammy veterans.

Female artists led the way in the Best New Artist category, with Ashanti, Michelle Branch, Jones and Avril Lavigne recognized, along with John Mayer.

Female newcomers Ashanti, Jones and Lavigne each scored five nominations. Ashanti stormed the R&B scene, earning nods for Best New Artist, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("Foolish"), Best Contemporary R&B Album (Ashanti), and two separate nominations in the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category ("What's Luv?" with Fat Joe and "Always On Time" with Ja Rule). Meanwhile, Jones' sultry blend of jazz and traditional pop earned her five nominations, including Best New Artist, Record Of The Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Don't Know Why") and Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album (Come Away With Me). In addition to earning a Song Of The Year nomination for writing "Complicated," Lavigne scored nominations for Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Complicated"), Best Pop Vocal Album (Let Go) and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance ("Sk8er Boi").

Veterans include eight-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow, who garnered nominations for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance ("Soak Up The Sun"), Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals ("It's So Easy" with Don Henley), Best Female Rock Vocal Performance ("Steve McQueen"), Best Rock Album (C'mon C'mon) and Best Country Collaboration With Vocals ("Flesh And Blood" with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris).

In the mean time, Five-time Grammy winner Eminem nabbed nominations for Record Of The Year, Best Male Rap Solo Performance and Best Short Form Music Video ("Without Me"), as well as Album Of The Year and Best Rap Album (The Eminem Show). Nelly earned five nominations too, including Album Of The Year and Best Rap Album (Nellyville), Record Of The Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration ("Dilemma" featuring Kelly Rowland), as well as Best Male Rap Solo Vocal Performance ("Hot In Herre").

Singer/songwriter Raphael Saadiq (formerly a member of Tony! Toni! Tone!) also earned five nods, including two separate songwriting nominations in the Best R&B Song category ("Be Here" featuring D'Angelo, and "Love Of My Life [An Ode To Hip Hop]" featuring Common) — the latter song also earning Saadiq a songwriting nom for Best Song Written For A Motion Picture, Television, Or Other Visual Media — as well as Best Urban/Alternative Performance ("Be Here") and Best R&B Album (Instant Vintage).

Finally, seven-time Grammy winner Springsteen returned and captured five nominations including Album Of The Year and Best Rock Album (The Rising), two songwriting nods for Song Of The Year and Best Rock Song ("The Rising") and Best Male Rock Vocal Performance ("The Rising").

Several artists received four nominations apiece: the Dixie Chicks (including Album Of The Year and Best Country Album), Alan Jackson (including Song Of The Year and Best Country Album), Chad Kroeger of Nickelback (including one nomination with Nickelback for Record Of The Year and two songwriting noms for Best Rock Song and Best Song Written For A Motion Picture, Television, Or Other Visual Media) and Remy Shand (including Best R&B Song and Best R&B Album).

Artists earning three nominations include India.Arie (including Best R&B Album and Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for a duet with Stevie Wonder), Erykah Badu (including two songwriting noms for Best R&B Song and Best Song Written For A Motion Picture, Television, Or Other Visual Media), Ian Bostridge (including two separate nominations in the Best Opera Recording category), Vanessa Carlton (including Record Of The Year in addition to a songwriting nod for Song Of The Year, and an arranging nod for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists), Johnny Cash (including Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for a duet with Fiona Apple), Elvis Costello (including Best Alternative Album and Best Rock Album), Dr. Dre (including Album Of The Year for his work on Eminem's The Eminem Show, and Producer Of The Year), Arif Mardin (including Record Of The Year and Producer Of The Year for his work with Jones), and No Doubt (including Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal and Best Pop Vocal Album), among many others.

The 45th Grammy Awards will be held on Feb. 23 at the Garden, and will be broadcast on CBS from 8-11:30 (ET/PT). On hand to announce the nominations this morning were an A-list of musicians, including Ashanti, Kenny Chesney, Jimmy Jam, Cyndi Lauper, Lavigne, Mayer, Justin Timberlake and Nelly. For a complete list of Grammy nominees click here.